The event was centred on Joint Ventures in Mental Health and how to address the barriers to working together. In his speech, Victor emphasised the importance of partnerships between the NHS and Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) organisations; the role of leadership and culture; and the urgency to do things differently if the health and care system is going to meet future demand.

Victor, a member of the Mental Health Taskforce which has been working on a future vision for mental health, said that the system requires significant reform if 92% of wards are supporting people who could have been treated by other services. He pointed to new models of working, based on collaboration, integration and partnership with community providers.